Since its inception in 2019, the Arafura and Timor Seas Ecosystem Action Phase II (ATSEA-2) Project has been actively implemented in Australia, Indonesia, and Timor-Leste, with Papua New Guinea joining in late 2021. Despite logistical challenges delaying the start, the project in PNG has focused on sustainable, community-based fisheries, aiming to improve the use of fishing gear by 25% by its conclusion in 2024.

In November 2024, an assessment was conducted in South Fly to evaluate progress on this target. A baseline survey early in the project revealed that 35% of the gillnets used did not meet legal requirements, specifically the prohibition of gillnets with a mesh size smaller than six inches. Baseline assessment of fishing gear use was conducted by interviewing fisher folks in the villages using Kobo. Logistical difficulty was a challenge, so villages were sampled on each trip.

To address this, ATSEA-2 conducted community consultations, awareness campaigns, and training on sustainable fisheries practices. Leaders from communities and stakeholders in South Fly, including local fisheries officers, were trained on Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM), and informal training and awareness were conducted across the villages during visits. Data collected from these efforts informed the development of the Fore Coast Artisanal Fisheries Management Plan and the Fore Coast Kiwai Local-Level Government Law on Management of the Marine Environment and Artisanal Fisheries.

These were finalised and socialized in August and October 2024, respectively, with their implementation officially launched at the end of October. The main components of the management plan and the by-law include target species, management rules such as fishing gear restrictions, no-take zones, and closure periods, as well as governance aspects for implementation and community-based Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance (MCS). The by-law also includes a penalties section.

The initiative in South Fly exemplifies the importance of collaborative, community-driven approaches to achieving sustainable fisheries management across the Arafura and Timor Seas region. The ongoing implementation, monitoring, and evaluation will be mainstreamed and conducted by the district and provincial fisheries as outlined in the governance sections of the management plan and by-law.

By Kenneth Yhuanje